cPanel Skel Directory FTP User

[forlinuxsupport]

Would it be possible to have the option within cPanel to setup an FTP user which has access to the /root/cpanel3-skel directory.

At the moment we have a client who would like to use this directory and we can upload files into this directory using SSH with root access however it would be better if he could upload the latest files he requires himself.

He is semi-technical so it would probably be better if he were to stick to using FTP to access this directory rather than trying to convert him over to SSH.

It would also mean he does not have to raise a support request with us each time he needs to update the skel directory.

[Infopro]

A regular user account having access to a root directory? I must not understand the question.

A regular user should have no reason to need that directory. A reseller has his own cpanel3-skel.

What would a user need to use from this directory?

[forlinuxsupport]

This person is the owner of the server (we just support this).

He has root access already via cPanel and the command line, however he is unfamiliar with SSH, and still uses FTP to upload/download all of his files.

He uses Joomla on all of his new accounts and would like to be able to upload the latest version once to the skel directory rather than numerous times to new accounts, and the only way he does that is via FTP.

Could you provide an alternative option to resolve his issue?

[cPanelDavidG]

This person is the owner of the server (we just support this).

He has root access already via cPanel and the command line, however he is unfamiliar with SSH, and still uses FTP to upload/download all of his files.

He uses Joomla on all of his new accounts and would like to be able to upload the latest version once to the skel directory rather than numerous times to new accounts, and the only way he does that is via FTP.

Could you provide an alternative option to resolve his issue?

I would recommend SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) - not to be confused with FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPS). The better FTP clients out there already support this, even the no-cost ones like FileZilla, CoreFTP and Cyberduck. SFTP provides the familiar look and feel of FTP without the insecurity (and potential permissions mess) of plain-text FTP. Someone unfamiliar with SSH will just think of it as just a different setting in their FTP program.

[Infopro]

I would recommend SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) - not to be confused with FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPS). The better FTP clients out there already support this, even the no-cost ones like FileZilla, CoreFTP and Cyberduck. SFTP provides the familiar look and feel of FTP without the insecurity (and potential permissions mess) of plain-text FTP. Someone unfamiliar with SSH will just think of it as just a different setting in their FTP program.

Agreed.

Also, using root for managing accounts is really not the best way to go.

Far better I think, even though he has root access, is to create his own reseller account and give that reseller access to all the tools he'll need via the Reseller Center in WHM. Next, move all accounts he owns now, to be owned by this reseller account.

This gives him SFTP access normally via his own main Reseller account (and SSH when he's ready) and of course, access to cpanel3-skel where he can place the files he'd like to be copied over to any new accounts created, by that Reseller.

You really don't want to be logging in as root unless needed. Doing the above is a fine way to keep things safe, and give this user more access at the same time as he is requesting.

HTH!

[forlinuxsupport]

OK thanks, that sounds like the best suggestion, I will look into that now.